During Summits we will intentionally listen to the voices of children and families, congregations and their leaders, and seminary professors and students by convening gatherings of identified audiences. The purpose of these Summits is to assess current contexts, identify challenges, impediments, hopes, and needs to fully engage and nurture children in corporate worship and prayer. Through deep listening, we intend to discern what resources need to be developed and experiences offered and to provide foundations for beginning or strengthening the journey of nurturing children through worship and prayer. Each Summit will be organized around affinity groups, and congregations will be asked to attend in teams to foster sustaining relationships. The Center for Excellence in Christian Education is a nexus for interconnectivity that engenders substantive and collaborative work that enlivens educational leadership, practices, and research across ministries in diverse contexts. The Center inhabits the intersection of the academy and the congregation, scholars and practitioners, theory and practice as it cultivates and curates relevant and dynamic resources for forming an engaging faith in a changing Church and complex world.

Summit Composition

Summits will include up to five leaders (two with experience and expertise in fields and one artist) who will enrich the experience of the Summit and provide concrete ideas and examples. Leadership for the Summits will also include the CECE’s leadership (staff and Advisory Council). The first four Summits will take place on the Charlotte Campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary across 2.5 days.

1. Small to medium congregational teams :
   Solo Pastors (ordained or commissioned) – along with lay leaders with responsibilities for or interest in worship and/or Christian education will join seminary students called to congregational ministries and artists.
   Goal: Ten teams of up to three people from a congregation and two seminary students will be invited to participate for a total of 32 people.

2. Multi-staff congregational teams :
   These congregational teams may include the Head of Staff, Associate Pastor(s) or Christian educators, along with lay leaders with responsibilities for or interest in worship and/or Christian education. They will also be joined by seminary students called to congregational ministries and artists.
   Goal: Ten team of up to four people from a congregation and two seminary students will be invited to participate for a total of 42 people.

3. Seminary professors :
   10 seminary professors with an interest or responsibility for children and families. It is especially geared for professors in practical theology (worship, homiletics, pastoral care, and Christian education.)

4. Individual Church Leaders :
   This Summit is open to up to 10 church leaders (pastors, educators, or lay leaders) who are committed to nurturing faith in children through worship and prayer but who do not have a congregational team with which to participate. This is especially geared for those in congregations who are resistant to children’s inclusion in worship.
   Goal: Ten team congregational leaders (pastors, educators, or lay leaders) and two seminary students will be invited to participate for a total of 12 people.

5. Intergenerational/Families :
   These Summits will be held regionally and provide opportunities to listen to children and their families as well as provide new experiences that nurture faith. These one-day events will span from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Lunch and materials will be provided. Each Summit is intended to be ecumenical and will be organized around activities and experiences that invite the information we hope to gather through play and embodied experiences that are intentionally intergenerational.
   Goal: Up to ten families. Multiple families may attend from the same church but is not required for participation. The goal is up to five families per region for a total of 50 families.
   Each participant will be asked to:

• Commit (personally and/or congregationally) to participating in a Journey Group (see description below).

• Conduct a self-assessment (personal and/or congregational) of current level of including and nurturing children in worship and prayer.

• Intentionally engage in new patterns and practices (personal and/or congregational) that engage, welcome, and nurture children through worship and prayer during the initiative.

• Reconvene in later Summits that will critically reflect on, evaluate, and assess their experience over the course of this grant and engage in futuring for what comes next in a year, five years, and ten years.